Slicing machine



Dec. 28, 1937.

' sLIcING MACHINE Filed NOV. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-SheetI l 'im 'III-M, 2,-" 3,3

III W @I i I lNvl-:NTOR: ff WILHELMUS ADRlANus VAN BERKEL ATT'YS.

w. ApvAN BERKEL 2,103,567

Dec.` 28, 1937. w. A.'vAN BERKEL SLICING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5,` 1934 FIG; 6.

INVENTOR= WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL BY @076 8 m ATT'YS.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED s'lATEs` naar SLICING MACHINE Wilhelmus Adrianus van Berkel, Clarens, Switzerland, assignor to U. S. slicing Machine Company, La Porte, l Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application Nevember 5, 1934, serial No. 751,595 In Great Britain November 9, 1933 11 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines, and particularly to slicing machines employing a gauge plate and a pusher element.

Machines of the type to which the present invention relates have an arrangement to feed the substance against the gauge plate which is arranged slightly beyond but parallel to the cutting plane of the slicing knife, the slicing knife being either mechanically or electrically rotated. Means are employed whereby vthe substance is fed by .a substance engager usually termed' a pusher plate and comprising a pusher-and-clamp device. The feeding movement to the pusher 4is effected either mechanically or automatically.V A desirable method of moving the substance against the pusher plate is disclosed in the copending application to Charles Held Serial No. 584,917, filed January 6, 1932.

An important object of the present invention 20v is to provide a slicing machine which is provided with means for lifting or easing the substance from the substance support or carriage so as to eliminate friction caused by the substance against the carriage or substance support, particularly ata time when the substance is directly opposite the gauge plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide means `for materially lightening. the substance and to lessen the frictional contact between the substance support and the pusher by lifting or easing the substance from the substance support preferably at the beginning of a. stroke or atthe end of the return stroke and at a time plate. Y

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method for moving the substance intermittently into the cutting plane of the knife and raising the meat or other substance off the substance plate during the intermittent movement. Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the vprogress of the fol lowing specification. f

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selectwhen the substance is directly opposite the gauge (C1. MfS- 102) form of arrangement embodying the invention and looking in the direction of the arrows 5 5 of Fig, 6.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view similar to Fig. 4 but taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The particular slicing machine herein disclosed, for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, comprises a slicing machine having a stationary base I0 andl a substance support i I which, in the particular embodiment, is a carriage mounted on rails I2 and I 3 for fore-andaft reciprocation. The carriage is adapted to be reciprocated past the cutting edge of the knife, and includes or carries the usual substance or food support which may comprise an integral part of the carriage or it may be a separate or additional member. A slicing knife I4 mounted in a casing l5 is arranged at one side of the base It in the usual manner. The knife may be rotated either by an electric motor, or alternately by a mechanical connection with the substance.

A gauge plate I6 is associated with the knife and is arranged slightly beyond and parallel to the cutting plane of the knife. Means, not shown, areprovided, for moving the gauge plate It inwardly and outwardly according to the thickness of a slice to be cut. The means for operating the gauge plate are well-known and, there* fore, further description thereof need not be made. Substance on the substance support I I may be held or supported by suitable means which may comprise any convenient well-known means, but in the present illustration comprises a substance engager or pusher plate il. The pusher plate I'I may be of the pusher-and-clamp type, the pusher portion comprising a plate Il and the clamp portion comprising a bar Il. The substance engaging surfaces of the member I1 may be each provided with toothed or spiked elements I 8. A handle I9 on the arm 26 isoperatively connected to the pusher plate il. The free end of the arm 20 is slidably and turnably mounted on a guide rod 2| which is secured to a part of the substance support II.

In operating the machine so far described, the operator reciprocates the support II from end to end of the base II), the substance being thus carried to and fro past the exposed edge of the rotating knife. Prior to the cutting of a slice, the substance engager is displaced toward the slicing plane, the substance being thereby fed across the support II into engagement with the gauge plate I 6.

The means for lifting or easing the substance to eliminate or lessen frictional contact between the substance and the substance support during the feed movements comprises a series of openings 30 which are formed in the substance support a short distance from the end thereof adjacent the slicing plane, Fig. 1. A series of rollers 3| are arranged in register with the holes 30, there being one roller in each hole. The rollers 3| are. carried at the free ends of a corresponding series of arms 32, Figs. 2 to 4, all the arms 32 being pivotally mounted on a shaft 33 which is rigidly xed on the underside of the support The arms 32 are individually pulled upward by springs 34, the upward limit of the movement of the arms being defined by a displaceabl'e abutment bar 35. The rollers 3| are urged by the spring action to extend through the openings 30 as far as permitted by the abutment bar 35.

The bar 35 has its ends provided with rods 36, Fig. 3, which are respectively guided in brackets 3l secured to the underside of the support The ends 36 of the bar 31 are continuously pressed downwardly by springs 38. 'Ihe total thrust of the two springs 38 is greater than the total thrust of the several springs 34. Thus, the springs 38 tend to force the bar 35 downward into its lowest position. Stops 33 are provided on the guide rods 36 and are arranged in slots 40, Fig. 3, formed in the brackets 31. Rollers 4| and 42, which are arranged on the ends 36' of the bar 35. are adapted to cooperate with cam members 43 and 44 which maybe adjustably secured to the base I0, if desired. The roller 4| and the member 43 are oirset from the roller 42 and member 44, Fig. 4, so that the roller 4| and its mounting will not foul the member 44 during reciprocatory movement of the substance support The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that during the slicing operation, the rollers 4| and 42 are clear of their cam members 43 and 44 with the result that the abutment bar 35 occupies its lowest position. When the abutment bar 35 is in its lowest position, it will hold the arms 32 depressed to such an extent that the rollers 3| will be beyond the substance supporting surface of the support thereby rendering the rollers 3| inoperative when in such depressed position. During the re.- turn movement of the substance support the rollers 4| and 42 will engage their respective cams 43 and 44 when the substance support moves to a position to register with the gauge plate I6. The action of the cams 43 and 44 forces the bar 35 upwardly in opposition to the pressure of the springs 38. Therefore, the arms 32 will be subject-ed to the upward pull of the springs 34 with the result that the rollers 3| will be pulled upwardly and extend a predetermined distance above the upper face of the substance support and into engagement with the substance. The springs 34 are of such a strength that all the rollers 3| will lift the substance. free from contact with the substance support at the edge of the substance support lying adjacent the gauge plate. The individual springs 34 operate the individual rollers 3|, whereby proper adjustment can be. had and proper liftingV arrangement enhanced regardless of the irregularity in the shape of the substance.

As shown in the. drawings, the' substance support is in the position approaching the end of its return stroke'. When'in such position, the rollers 4! and 42 have almost reached the summit of the cams 43 and 44. When the rollers 4| and 42 reach their top or uppermost position, the substance will be subjected to the. full upward thrust of the roller 3|.V When in this upward position,

it is desirable that the feed movement should be imparted to the substance by means of the substance. engager Il. The rollers 3| then lift or ease the substance in such a manner that the frictional contact between the substance support during the feed or pushing movement, will be Wholly or partly avoided. The work of feeding the substance toward the gauge plate is therefore materially lessened.

Shortly after the commencement of the next slicing stroke, the rollers 4| and 42 will move down their cams, at which time the springs 38 will return the abutment bar 35 into its lowest position. This. movement of the bar 35 will cause the rollers 3| to Withdraw or recede below the level of the substance supporting surface of the support The substance will then again be in full friction-al contact with the substance support during the slicing operation, so that movement of the substance during the slicing operation will be frictionally resisted.

Another way of lifting or easing the substance out of frictional contact with the substance support is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein long supports 0| may be substituted for the rollers 3|. The right hand side of each lever 32 is provided with a stop'nose |02 which becomes effective when the support |0|1 has been retracted below the general supporting surface. by the action of a com.- pression spring |03. with a roller |04 which cooperates and engages with individual cams |05.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there are shown three cams cooperating with the three levers 32 therein shown. If additional levers are to be used, of course additional cams must be employed. The cams |05 are successively distributed under the levers, each cam |05 positively moving a support |0| above the supporting surface, While the spring |03 causes retraction of each individual support IGI.

The modified arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be preferable over the construction shown in Figs. lr to 4 inasmuch as the cams |05 positively' lift the substance, while the spring 34, shown in Figs. 1 to 4, must be strong enough for the heaviest substance used.

It is to bev understood that as.many members |0| as desired may be used, the three members |0| shown in Fig. 6 being sufficient for the purpose of illustrating the method and mode of operation. Means |06 of any desirable or convenient construction may be employed for operatively securing the members |0| to their respective Vmembers 32. Al'so, a supporting face |01 may be provided for engaging the underside of the supports |0|i as clearly disclosedl in the drawings, particularly' Fig. 5.

The invention comprises simple and novel means for reducing the friction between the substance and the substance support, particularly at a time when the substance is to be pushed or fed toward the gauge plate to cut a subsequent slice, and permits or maintains the usual frictional contact between the substance and the substance support during the cutting operation.

Changes may be made inY the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall withinv the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, a rotating knife, a gauge plate, means Each lever 32 is provided arranged at spaced intervals in said support for lifting the substance from the support, means for operating the lifting means, and spring means for holding said lifting means depressed Within the substance support during the slicing operation of the knife.

2. A slicing machine comprising a substance support, a knife, mechanism whereby substance on the support is sliced by the knife during reciprocation of the substance support across the knife, and means comprising lifting means for lifting the substance from the substance support, means for rendering said lifting means being operative when the substance support reaches a predetermined position, and means for rendering theV lifting means inoperative when the substance support isv moved out of said predetermined position.`

3. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, lifting' means operatively associated with the support for freeing the substance from the support each time the support is at a predetermined position, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and means fory rendering said lifting means inoperative when the support is at a position other than the said predetermined position.

4. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, lifting means operatively associated With the support for lifting the substance from the support, cam means having operative association With the support for operating the lifting means each time the support is at a predetermined position, and means for rendering the lifting means inoperative when the lifting means are not operated by the cam means.

5. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, lifting means operatively associated with the support for freeing the substance from the support each time the support is at a predetermined position, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and spring means for rendering said lifting means inoperative when the support is at a position other than the said predetermined position.

6. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, lifting means extending through the substance support for freeing the substance from the substance support, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and spring means for rendering said lifting means inoperative during the cutting operation.

7. A slicing machine comprising a knife, means for operating the knife, a carriage, means to reciprocate the carriage across the cutting edge-of the knife, a substance support on the carriage, a substance pusher on the substance support to move substance toward the cutting plane of the knife, lifting means operatively7 associated with the support for freeing the substance from the substance support each time the support is at a predetermined position during operation of the substance pusher, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and means for rendering said lifting means inoperative during the cutting operation.

8. A slicing machine comprising a knife, means for operating the knife, a carriage, means to reciprocate the carriage across the cutting edge of the knife, a substance support on the carriage, a substance pusher on the substance support to move substance toward the cutting plane of the knife, lifting means extending through the substance sup-port for freeing the substance from the substance support, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and spring means for rendering said lifting means inoperative during the cutting operation.

9. A slicing machine comprising a knife and meansfor operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, a gauge plate associated with the knife, lifting means operatively associated With the support for freeing the substance fromthe support each time the support Vis at a position opposite the gauge plate, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and means for rendering the lifting means inoperative When the support is not in said position.

10. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating theV knife, a substance sup-- port, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, a gauge plate associated with the knife, lifting means extending through the substance support for freeing the substance from the support each time the support is at a position opposite the gauge plate,

means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and means for rendering the lifting means inoperative when the support is in positions other than said position.

1l. A slicing machine comprising a knife and means for operating the knife, a substance support, means to reciprocate the support across the cutting edge of the knife, aV gauge plate associated with the knife, lifting means extending through the substance support for freeing thev substance from the support each time the support is at a position opposite the gauge plate, means having operative association with the support for operating the lifting means, and spring means for rendering the lifting means inoperative when the support is in positions other than said position.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL. 

